Keith Moreland
From BR Bullpen
Bobby Keith Moreland
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 200 lb.
- School University of Texas at Austin
- High School RL Turner High School
- Debut October 1, 1978
- Final Game September 24, 1989
- Born May 2, 1954 in Dallas, TX USA
[edit] Biographical Information
"I don't think I have ever seen a better hitter at the plate when the game is on the line than Keith Moreland." - Gary Matthews, quoted in the book Cubs: Where Have You Gone
Keith Moreland was a multi-talented player who had twelve seasons in the major leagues, mostly in the National League. He is now (2008) an announcer for ESPN U, which telecasts NCAA baseball games.
He went to Turner High School in Dallas, TX where he starred in three sports, and then went to college where he was a defensive back as well as a third baseman.
Moreland was at the University of Texas from 1973-75, being part of the 1975 College World Series championship team. He was at UT at the same time as Jim Gideon and Rich Wortham. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975.
Much of his minor league career was spent at Reading and Oklahoma City, where he hit for a good average and some power.
He originally came to the majors in 1978 as a catcher, and had a good year in 1980 hitting .314/.341/.440. In the 1980 World Series he hit .333, playing DH. In the 1981 division series, he slugged .692.
After the 1981 season he was traded to the Chicago Cubs (his former manager Dallas Green became the general manager at Chicago) and began to play more outfield than catcher. From 1982-87 with the Cubs, he hit homers in double figures each year. While never finishing in the top ten in slugging percentage, he twice finished in the top ten in batting average while with the Cubs, who won the division in 1984 while he was there. In 1985 his 106 RBI were fourth in the league, as he frequently drove home Ryne Sandberg. He also stole 12 bases that year, getting caught only three times.
He hit a peak 27 home runs in 1987. 1987 was also the first year in which he spent no time at catcher, playing 150 games at third base in place of Ron Cey, who had been traded prior to the season.
Moreland was traded in 1988, but his power was gone. In spite of that, he was still able to hit .278 in his last season, close to his career batting average of .279.
The site Bleed Cubbie Blue chose Moreland as #60 on its list of the Top 100 Cubs of all time. The site says that after his playing days Moreland was a high school baseball coach, a roving minor league instructor, and a college radio announcer. Another article says that after his playing days Moreland earned his college degree and briefly coached at UT but switched to broadcasting when one of his friends needed the coaching job.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1987)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 1 (1985)
- Won a World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980
